Jones Café Announces New Ownership After Nearly 68 Years Serving Clayton

CLAYTON – Jones Café, a beloved local staple in Clayton, North Carolina, has announced that owners Burr and Chrystal Jones have reached an agreement to sell their well-known establishment. Effective December 15, 2025, the café will be acquired by Hometowne Hospitality LLC, owned by James Lipscomb and Mike O’Dowd.

Located in the heart of Clayton, Jones Café has long served as a gathering place for residents, families, and visitors, offering homemade meals and a community-focused dining experience. The transition marks a new chapter for the iconic eatery while honoring its tradition of local, Southern hospitality.

Hometowne Hospitality LLC plans to continue operating under the Jones Café name with a commitment to preserving the legacy, culture, and menu items cherished by the community.

The Jones family released a statement thanking their long-time customers and remarking their appreciation for the generations of their family that got the business where it is today. The Jones Family stated:

“After 12 years of running our beloved namesake, the time has finally come for us to move on. We have put all of our physical and mental effort toward perfecting, preserving, and honoring Jones’ since 2013. However, there comes a point when you realize it is time to rest and let a new chapter begin.

The Jones family spent a total of 68 years in the restaurant business, and anyone who is familiar with the work of running a restaurant knows that is a strong run filled with limitless hard work. We look back in gratitude today for William A. Jones, our patriarch, for developing such a special place, and for Curtis Jones Sr. for carrying the business another 30 years thereafter. The business we are soon to hand off has come a long way since 1958, but we believe the charm and joy will live on for decades to come.

During our time, we have worked to ensure the institution that you’ve known and loved since 1958 was always what you wanted. We are confident that the hands we are leaving it in have that same desire at heart. We appreciate the care that James and his team are putting forth to ensure you are still able to enjoy Jones Cafe.

We want to express our utmost gratitude for each and every person who has visited us over the past 12 years, especially those who have visited nearly all of those days. Many of you have become family to us through your patronage, and we cannot be more appreciative for that. Each customer allowed us to continue living our dream of running this business, and we are eternally grateful for your trust in us to prepare meals for you over and over again.

We will continue being at the helm until December 15th, and we would love to see you before we go. After that, we hope to see you around Clayton sometime soon.”

James, on behalf of Hometown Hospitality, released a statement speaking to his deep connection with the establishment, his vision for keeping the charm of the restaurant, and introducing his leadership team. In full, Lipscomb stated:

“Jones Café is more than a restaurant, it is an iconic Clayton landmark. For three generations, the Jones family has guided this business into a community institution, the kind of place that helps define who we are as a town.

The Jones family’s dedication has been extraordinary, and we are humbled by their decision to trust us with its future. As the new owners, Mike O’Dowd and I, the team behind Vinson’s Pub on Main Street, are committed to honoring the legacy they have built. We look forward to continuing a tradition that began in the 1940s, before even the Jones family took ownership, when the restaurant was operated by local favorites Chic Sheridan and Mr. Moser.

Hometowne Hospitality was born in Clayton. I grew up here. I was raised on these streets and on food from this café, sometimes literally, since my father ran a hardware store just five doors down in the 1970s and 80s. I’ve been a Jones customer for as long as I’ve been able to hold a fork.

When I launched Hometowne Hospitality in 2018 with the creation of Vinson’s Pub, it was built on a passion for this community. Partnering with Mike, whose lifetime of hospitality experience spans from the grill to management, helped turn that passion into a reality. Together we built a family-friendly restaurant with a bar that reflects the heart of Clayton. Now, we bring that same model of pride, hard work, and hometown love to Jones Café.

We are honored to continue the legacy of the Jones family. Their story is deeply connected to Clayton, and now our families are connected through this transition as well. We share a love for this town, and we are committed to keeping the heart, culture, and character of Jones’ exactly as the community knows and loves it- so that future generations of Clayton residents can build memories just as we have.

That connection grows even stronger with the addition of my nephew, David Baumgartner, who will take over as General Manager of Jones Café. David grew up in Clayton, studied culinary arts in college, and worked in both restaurant operations and food service management. He is thrilled to return home to guide Jones into its next generation of service. His leadership continues the heritage of family, familiarity, and hometown pride.

Our promise is simple: Jones Café will continue to be the Jones Café you love. A place where the food, the people, and the feeling of home always come first.”

The transition of Jones Cafe becomes official on December 15, 2025. Jones Café will continue to operate under its current name and with its current commitment to hometown service, food, and hospitality.

Jones Cafe is located at 415 E. Main Street in downtown Clayton.